y the assaults of your enemies. This defence will
avail you alike against the hot-headed onslaughts [of the Goths] and
the ruinous chicanery [of the Romans][491]; but you must beware that
you, who have thus had to solicit the help of the law, do not yourself
set law at defiance by refusing to appear in answer to a summons.

[Footnote 490: 'Tuitio nostri nominis.']

[Footnote 491: 'Validissimam turrem contra inciviles impetus et
conventionalia detrimenta.']

'That our royal protection be not a mere name, we appoint A and B to
protect you by their fidelity and diligence, the former against the
Goths, and the latter against the Romans[492]. If any one hereafter
attempt any act of _incivilitas_ against you, you will see your desire
upon your enemies.'

[Footnote 492: 'Praesentis beneficii jussione adversus Gothis illa,
adversus Romanos illa, facile te fides et diligentia custodiet'
('custodivit' is surely an error).]

[This important letter is commented upon at some length by Dahn
('Koenige der Germanen' iii. 125-127). I am not sure that he is right
in stating that _Tuitio_ against a Goth would _necessarily_ be given
by means of a Sajo, though evidently this was often the rank of the
officer employed.]

40. FORMULA FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF MARRIAGE AND THE LEGITIMATION OF
OFFSPRING.

[Sidenote: De Matrimonio confirmando et liberis legitime
constituendis.]

'An eternal benefit is that which is bestowed on a man's offspring;
and hard is the lot of him who, born with a stain on his name, finds
his troubles prepared as soon as he comes forth to the light of day.

'You pray that the woman whom you have loved but not married may
receive the honour of wedlock, and that your children by her may
attain the name of heirs. We grant your request, and ordain that your
mistress shall be your lawful wife, and the children whom you love
and whom Nature has given you, your successors.'

[Some of the maxims of this letter can hardly have obtained the
approval of the author after he 'entered religion.']

41. FORMULA CONFERRING THE RIGHTS OF FULL AGE.

[Sidenote: Aetatis venia.]

'An honourable boast is contained in the suit for "venia aetatis." In
it a young man says, "Give me those rights which my stability of
character warrants, though my age does not as yet entitle me to them."

'Thus you refuse the protection which the law throws round the years
of weakness, and this is as bold a thing as any man can do. We grant
you